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Ben Foakes has been described as “the best wicketkeeper in the world” but will travel to Australia as Jonny Bairstow’s deputy

Alan Gardner29-Oct-2017If Alec Stewart is correct, England have packed the best wicketkeeper in the world among their Ashes luggage, almost as you would take a spare toothbrush on holiday.Ben Foakes, uncapped and on his first senior tour, travels to Australia as Jonny Bairstow’s deputy, though such is the nature of England expeditions Down Under, it would not be entirely surprising if he somehow ended the series batting in the middle order: as well as his ability with the gloves, Foakes is a batsman good enough to average more than 40 in first-class cricket.His rise has perhaps taken longer than some expected, having been selected for England Lions as a 19-year-old, but two seasons of immaculate glovework and crisp run-scoring at Surrey have pushed him into the role of Test understudy ahead of Jos Buttler, who keeps in the white-ball formats.”It has taken a couple of weeks to sink in,” Foakes said, speaking in the Long Room at Lord’s, undaunted at being first into the fray for England’s departure press conference. “Jonny is obviously world class, I can’t go out there expecting to replace him. I am just trying to prepare to play the first game if needed.”When I first came to Surrey I wasn’t keeping regularly and at Essex I was behind James Foster – I had to make a decision to move to Surrey and the last couple of years I have been able to keep regularly, and my main focus was on red-ball cricket. To be able to be here now shows the progress I’ve made.”While Bairstow has bristled at the idea of relinquishing the gloves, England may eventually conclude that Foakes is wasted as a luxury item. If the top five continues to misfire, and with Ben Stokes currently out of consideration for his usual role at No. 6, the temptation to bat Bairstow higher and bring in Foakes will grow.It is an area in which England can contrast themselves favourably with Australia, who have several names in the frame to push the incumbent, Matthew Wade, but little certainty as to who will take the gloves in Brisbane and beyond.Foakes is a quietly assured operator, happy to let his game do the talking. His father, former Premier League referee Peter, died of a heart attack when he was 13 – he has the date tattooed on his wrist – but Ben emerged from that “difficult time” to break into Essex’s first team while still a teenager. Foster’s excellence blocked his path at Chelmsford but he saw off the competition at Surrey, who at one stage could choose between Foakes, Steven Davies, Gary Wilson and Kumar Sangakkara.He was likened to an “artist” for his keeping with the Lions in Sri Lanka earlier this year, by former England coach and Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Andy Flower. Stewart’s praise then took things up a notch. “I saw it on Facebook and obviously had a few Indian fans jibing and bringing up MS Dhoni,” Foakes said. “I think to hear that is lovely.”He has plenty of experience of Australia, having played there in an Under-19 World Cup and on the 2012-13 Lions tour – from which, coincidentally, Stokes was sent home for one too many nights out – as well as spending some time with Adelaide University.Given the England team that finished the 2013-14 Ashes featured five changes from the one that started the series, it’s a reasonable bet that Australia could also be the place where Foakes makes his international debut.”I think it is an amazing place to play cricket, the whole package out there is the best experience of cricket I have had,” Foakes said. “You get a bit of grief that is quite a natural sort of mentality – I don’t look at that stuff too much, it’s about trying to represent my country and do everything I can for England.”I think our chances are very good – we have world-class performers with a lot of experience, which obviously makes a real difference to any side, and I think it is about how the less-experienced guys are able to support them and lift our games and learn off them.”The wisdom of Foakes’ inclusion may soon become apparent. As the Chris Evans TV show of the 90s once instructed: don’t forget your toothbrush.

Lionel Messi will be getting more new team-mates at Inter Miami, with Tata Martino confirming that they remain in the market for reinforcements.

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• Suarez & Gressel on board
• More spots to fill on roster
• Beckham working on deals

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The MLS off season always brings with it sweeping change, and life is no different at DRV PNK Stadium than it is anywhere else. There have been departures in Florida, while veteran Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has been reunited with former Barcelona team-mates Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in the United States.

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  Inter Miami have also been able to acquire USMNT star Julian Gressel – a two-time MLS Cup winner – and have other gaps to fill on their roster. They had hoped to lure former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo away from Boca Juniors, but the no-nonsense Argentine has decided to remain in his homeland.

• WHAT MARTINO SAID

  Martino has told of the ongoing search for fresh faces, with further movement to be expected: “Julian Gressel has arrived, I know him from my time in Atlanta, we have chosen him in our first draft. I think the league hasn’t moved much, so I think there are going to be some more changes. The teams are just about start the pre-season, it occurs to me that we ourselves are also in certain searches: we have lost Kamal Miller, our second central defender. Marcos Rojo has not been able to be done, but we are in the search to complete a team that has three very important fronts to compete on this year. The truth is that we intend to be competitive.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  David Beckham, as a co-owner at Inter Miami, is among those expected to make notable additions possible. He will continue to work behind the scenes as Messi and the rest of Martino’s squad head into a busy run of pre-season fixtures that includes friendly dates with the likes of El Salvador, a Hong Kong Select XI, Newell’s Old Boys and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

Glenn Maxwell, called in as cover for Warner, will now be on standby for both batsmen

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba22-Nov-20170:53

Warner will bat like Chanderpaul if he has to – Smith

Shaun Marsh has joined David Warner on the injury-watch list after pulling up from training with a stiff back on the eve of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Warner had hurt his neck during a fielding drill on Tuesday. Glenn Maxwell was called in as cover on Wednesday; by the end of the afternoon, he found himself on standby for Marsh as well as Warner.The uncertainty complicates what would otherwise be a straightforward selection for Australia on Thursday morning. Should Warner be ruled out, the most logical move would be to shift Marsh up the order to open with Cameron Bancroft, and have Maxwell come in at No. 6. But Marsh himself being under a cloud muddies those waters somewhat.Earlier in the day, Australia captain Steven Smith had said he was confident Warner would be passed fit. Although Warner had faced only two throwdowns in the nets on Tuesday, he enjoyed a much longer batting session on match eve as he aimed to prove his fitness.”Davey’s going well,” Smith said after Australia’s training session on Wednesday. “He had a hit just before. He’s very confident and he says he’ll be right to go. It’s part and parcel of playing cricket. Guys have injuries now and then. You have little niggles and he’s confident that he’ll be okay. He said he’ll even bat like Shivnarine Chanderpaul if he has to bat that way. So I think he’ll be all right.”Soon after Smith’s press conference, Australia confirmed that Maxwell would be brought in as cover. Maxwell has played Australia’s four most recent Test matches, in India and Bangladesh, and scored his maiden Test hundred in Ranchi in March.However, he is yet to play a Test match on home soil, and was overlooked in the original squad as the selectors instead opted for Marsh as the No. 6 batsman.Smith also confirmed that, as expected, fast bowlers Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers would sit out of the side from the 13-man squad.

Legspinner Eddie Leie ended up conceding the second-most runs in a single over in List A cricket history

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2018JP Duminy broke the South African List A record for most runs scored in a single over when he hit Eddie Leie for 37 runs in a Momentum one-day cup match on Wednesday.It happened when the Cape Cobras were comfortably placed at 208 for 2 in the 36th over of a chase of 240 against the Knights. But Duminy, batting on 34 off 30 balls, sensed the opportunity to steal a bonus point. And it helped that the man he was facing was a legspinner, turning the ball into his hitting arc.The carnage began with a slog sweep. It continued with a biff straight down the ground. Then came a couple of heaves into the grass banks on the leg side. Four balls. Four sixes. Two more and he would match Herschelle Gibbs’ feat in the 2007 World Cup.Duminy took strike again as excitement built around Newlands. But Leie doused it all by making sure his fifth delivery cost only two runs. There was only one ball left in the over and it seemed like the record wouldn’t be broken.Except Leie coughed up a no-ball, and Duminy hit it for four through extra cover. That took the tally to 31 runs off the over and it was game on again.Duminy took his stance. Leie ran in. A split second later the ball was soaring away for six. Duminy had not only won the match but secured his place in history as the batsman to hit the second-most runs in an over of List A cricket. In October 2013, Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura had played a big hand in ransacking 39 runs against Bangladesh’s Alauddin Babu in the Dhaka Premier League.”It is not every day you get the opportunity, so of course I was trying to go for the six sixes in an over,” Duminy said after finishing unbeaten on 70 off just 37 balls. “I initially thought it was all about the bonus point. I looked up at the scoreboard and we needed 35 with four overs still to go to get the bonus point, so I just decided to take Eddie on. I was striking the ball really cleanly, and when the first two went for six, I figured I might as well give it a full go now because regardless whether I get out we would still have secured the bonus point. It was enjoyable.”

The left-arm spinner replaces Beth Langston in only change to the squad that clinched the
Women’s World Cup in July

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2017Eighteen-year-old left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who made her ODI debut last year, has been named in the England women squad as they attempt to regain the Ashes, which begins in Australia on October 22. Ecclestone replaced medium-pacer Beth Langston as the only change to the squad that clinched the Women’s World Cup in July this year.”Sophie Ecclestone has finished school now and has had a great summer domestically,” England coach Mark Robinson said. “Her selection will provide another option to our attack.”England leave for Brisbane on October 7 for the multi-format series that starts with three ODIs. That will be followed by a day-night Test in Sydney, before the tour concludes with three T20Is.”Ashes tours don’t come around all too often, so it’s always a special opportunity,” England captain Heather Knight said. “Australia are going to be very strong opponents on their home soil, so we’ll have to be at our best, across all three formats.”England women squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Nat Sciver, Sarah Taylor (wk), Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt

Fans have slammed Neymar for appearing to be overweight and say that he should "retire" after returning to Al-Hilal training following his ACL injury.

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• Neymar out with ACL injury
• Brazilian back training at Al-Hilal
• Fans criticise his physique again

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 32-year-old hit back at football supporters who criticised his physique last month as he recovers from hisanterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear he suffered while on national duty with Brazilin October. Now the former Barcelona star is doing individual training work at the Saudi Pro League side, his detractors are once again lambasting the Brazilian.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  NBA Memes wrote: "Neymar is on that (basketball player) James Harden diet."

  Agurama JnR commented: "What happened to Neymar??"

  ReecyTM tweeted: "Neymar should just retire from playing football and focus on riding horses."

  UncleKeyz added: "Neymar looks like a blesser now," while Iconic Blanco did a side by side photo of Neymar at 32 versus a ripped Cristiano Ronaldo at 36.

  S.J.O put: "What is happening to all Brazil legends?" and showed a side by side of ex-forward Ronaldo and Neymar.

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  Former Paris Saint-Germain man Neymar, who left the Ligue 1 outfit for Al-Hilal last summer in a £77.2million ($98.3m) move, is in a race against time to play some part in the Saudi Pro League season – with ACL ruptures or tears typically taking eight to 10 months to recover from. The campaign ends in late May and there is no guarantee the ex-Barcelona ace will kick a ball again this term.

Alexia Putellas has confirmed that she is nearing a return after being included in Spain's squad for their Nations League final against France.

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• Putellas included in squad
• Recovering from ACL injury
• Did not get on the pitch

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Putellas is recovering from an ACL injury but was included in Spain's squad for their Nations League final against France, which they won 2-0. Putellas did not get on the pitch but she confirmed after the game that she is very close to returning to action.

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• WHAT PUTELLAS SAID

  The Barcelona star told reporters: "Very good, I'm super happy, goal accomplished, let's go to the Olympic Games as champions.

  "I feel good, looking forward to playing, there isn't much time left."

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  Putellas has been absent since November, when she was injured in Barcelona's Champions League clash with Benfica. She subsequently underwent surgery, but now looks poised to make a return. She won the Ballon d'Or back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona Femeni are next in action Athletic Bilbao in the Copa de la Reine, before returning to league action next weekend against Real Sociedad.

Sergio Aguero has opened up on how he felt during his final professional game at Barcelona before being forced to retire due to a heart condition.

• Aguero hung up his boots in 2021
• Heart condition saw his retire early
• Opens up on final game as a professional

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Aguero announced he was hanging up his boots at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with a heart condition. The striker suffered chest pains and dizziness while playing for Barcelona against Alaves in La Liga in a match which turned out to be his final appearance as a professional. Aguero has now spoken about the game and revealed how he felt before the match was stopped and he was able to receive medical attention.

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  WHAT SERGIO AGUERO SAID

  He told Juan Pablo Varsky for : “I felt like I was drowning, I didn’t feel pain. I had a lot of pressure in my head. I figured it was because I was physically ill and I thought: 'Shit, I’m so bad.'

  "I jumped for a header. They went to counter and I started to get dizzy. I felt like I was going to faint and I wanted to calm down. I wanted to say something and the words didn’t come out. I grabbed the hand of the Alaves captain as if to say: 'Stop the game.' He started screaming and they stopped the game.

  "When I calmed down, I felt like my heart started beating faster. That’s where the arrhythmia attack caught me. A week before it had happened to me in training but it had only been for 20 seconds.”

  Aguero also revealed why he opted to take the No. 19 shirt shirt when he moved to Barcelona in 2021, rather than the 10 left vacant after Lionel Messi's shock exit.

  “When Leo left Barcelona, they offered me the number 10 shirt and I said no. Not because I didn’t want it. I thought he was going to come back," he added. "They told me that I was the only one that could use it but for me, the number 10 belongs to Leo. Lastly, if he is not there, don’t use it.”

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  Aguero was taken to hospital after the Alaves match and then ruled out for three months by Barcelona. He subsequently confirmed he would be retiring at an emotional press conference. The striker has since been able to return to the pitch, playing in the seven-side Kings League tournament organised by former Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique. Aguero has even encouraged his good friend Messi to join his team at some point in the future.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AGUERO

  Aguero continues to be involved in football and shares a close friendship with Messi. He joined the Argentina squad at their base camp before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and made sure he was involved in their celebrations after victory at the tournament. Aguero has also managed to tempt Messi to join him as a co-owner of his KRU Esports team.

Stats highlights from the third day of the India-Pakistan Test in Kolkata

Cricinfo staff02-Dec-2007

Stats preview to the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban

Cricinfo staff09-Jan-2008With the series level at 1-1 and everything to play for, South Africa will be pleased with the venue for the decider. Of the 31 Tests they have played here, the South Africans have won 12 and lost nine, but it’s their recent record which will give them more confidence: seven victories and two defeats since their readmission into international cricket in 1992. The last time they lost to a side other than Australia in a Test here was almost ten years ago, when Pakistan beat them by 29 runs in February 1998.West Indies’ two trips here have hardly been memorable. In the Boxing Day Test in 1998 they went down by nine wickets, while five years later the hammering was even more severe, by an innings and 65 runs.

Jacques Kallis has, as usual, been the leading batsman for South Africa at this ground: he needs just 143 more to get to 1000 runs here, but for the rest it’s been a mixed bag. Shaun Pollock has enjoyed himself with the bat, with three half-centuries in 11 Tests, but some of the bigger names have struggled. It hasn’t been a happy venue for the captain, but for Hashim Amla Durban will conjure up miserable memories: in four innings he has scores of 1, 0, 1, 0.

Graeme Smith got some form back with his 85 in the second innings in Cape Town, but in ten innings in Durban, he has only scored one half-century. His average of 20.30 is his worst among home venues where he has played at least three Tests.

The absence of Chris Gayle will seriously weaken the West Indian batting. Among the batsmen in their squad, only two have played at this ground before. Shivnarine Chanderpaul has a healthy average here, but Daren Ganga, who will take the mantle of senior opener in the absence of Gayle, has struggled, scoring just 51 in four innings.

Not only has Pollock enjoyed batting here, he has also been among the wickets, taking 39 at an average of less than 23. Makhaya Ntini has averaged more than five wickets per Test here, but in his only Test he played here, against England in 2004, Dale Steyn only managed match figures 3 for 148.